I thought he looked ok at AFL level. Obviously not ready for regular senior games, but ok. (And I have good memories of him hitting Joe on the lead).

His form this year seems disappointing (I don’t see much VFL, so going by reports), but later in the year he started getting more of it, which had been a problem. That suggested to me that he was staying involved more, which is improvement. His disposal efficiency seemed down a bit, but it’s always been a slow development process for Jake.

I will understand if he’s delisted (although will be disappointed, as I think there’s a player there). But I won’t understand if they delist Long and keep Morgan, as it really seems that Morgan’s played about 3 serviceable quarters over 2 years.

And this isn’t to say I think they should delist Morgan. If you take players as projects they need a few years to grow and get confidence in their body and their ability to belong at the level. But of the 2 I’d be delisting Morgan first.

(I have others is delist before both though, so it depends how deep you want to go)

I think in both formats he showed some glimpses, but nowhere near enough consistent impact. That after his taste in 2016 he couldn’t elevate his VFL game in 2017 for me is reasonably damning. Also, I don’t think he was that great even in the second half of the season. This link kind of supports that Long VFL performances, with really two good games in that period.

Well EFC just uploaded an image of Jack Merrett running, saying 56 days after a broken leg and Jackson Merret is up and running again. It’s probably and odd thing to do if your going to delist him… or perhaps I’m being completely off-season over speculating bored.

Well EFC just uploaded an image of Jack Merrett running, saying 56 days after a broken leg and Jackson Merret is up and running again. It’s probably and odd thing to do if your going to delist him… or perhaps I’m being completely off-season over speculating bored.

Jackson Merret is running again, 56 days after a broken leg.
We would like to thank him for his great service to the club and wish him all the best in his future.Jackson waves back as he runs

I think we agree on where Long’s at. He needs to do more, but has shown glimpses. To me it’s worth persevering, more so than with Morgan, who has barely asked glimpses at VFL level.

But I understand that others are less patient.

And to be clear, I’m not going to be particularly fussed if Morgan gets the chop. I’d say he’s on pretty shaky ground.

jonovdp:

I said at the end of last season, that Long is no chance to get game time with the returning players coming back.

12 months ago I didn’t believe we should be judging him on not getting game time in the AFL in 2017 as a failure, but his ability to improve in the VFL.

I still believe this, and think he should still be on our list as he has improved in the VFL this season. He has good speed, and elite foot skills… something our list lacks.

He needs to be given a chance at AFL level next season imo.

I agree that playing AFL should not be the requirement of a “pass mark” for Long. However, I think he had to build on his AFL debut in the VFL this year, and I just don’t think he impacted enough games enough of the time. He’d do some good things in most games I saw, and some bad things, but didn’t generally touch the ball enough.

The question with Long vs. Morgan is exposure. Have we seen enough of Long to be pretty certain he won’t make it? Have we seen enough of Morgan to say the same?

Long has had two relatively injury free years, and shown some good AFL characteristics and a consistent inability to put together full game efforts and impacts very often, let alone consistently. So it might be time to make the call.

Morgan has been mostly injured for two years, and in his first stint of games at the back end of this season started putting some decent games together. I think there is a decent argument we don’t yet know if he will/won’t make it, and based on his drafting we must rate his ability. So giving him another year makes sense.

Morgan also has going for him that he plays an area we desperately need, with Kelly leaving, McGrath likely to be heading to the midfield and Bags probably slowing down. Not that we don’t need outside mids like Long, but the need is a little less.

Well EFC just uploaded an image of Jack Merrett running, saying 56 days after a broken leg and Jackson Merret is up and running again. It’s probably and odd thing to do if your going to delist him… or perhaps I’m being completely off-season over speculating bored.

It would be baffling if Merrett got another year. He only played half the games last year and he was available all season.
This year he didn’t play in the 1’s. Was he even named as an emergency?
Possibly would have got a game late for Colyer if he didn’t get unjured, but to be honest the fact the coaches didn’t have enough faith to use him in Colyer’s spot at some point earlier in the season probably shows he’s not rated by the coaches.